Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 26 December 1968
Aircraft Type: Boeing 707-321C
Owner/operator: Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Registration Number: N799PA
Location: Anchorage-Elmendorf AFB, AK (EDF) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Initial climb
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Flight Control System (specifically flaps and control inputs)Flight Control System (specifically flaps and control inputs)
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A Boeing aircraft, ‘Clipper Racer’, experienced a significant incident during a cargo/mail flight from San Francisco to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, due to adverse weather conditions at Anchorage International Airport. The flight was delayed, and the aircraft landed at Elmendorf AFB after several delays. The crew attempted a takeoff with flaps retracted, leading to a series of issues including contact with snow-covered ground, rotation, and subsequent breakdown.A Boeing aircraft, ‘Clipper Racer’, experienced a significant incident during a cargo/mail flight from San Francisco to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, due to adverse weather conditions at Anchorage International Airport. The flight was delayed, and the aircraft landed at Elmendorf AFB after several delays. The crew attempted a takeoff with flaps retracted, leading to a series of issues including contact with snow-covered ground, rotation, and subsequent breakdown.

Description

The Boeing, named “Clipper Racer”, had departed San Francisco on cargo/mail flight to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam via Anchorage, Tokyo, and Da Nang. Because of below minima weather at Anchorage International Airport, the aircraft landed at Elmendorf AFB. Several delays were experienced before the flight taxied out at 06:02. Flight 799 was given a void time of 06:15 by Oceanic Control to avoid traffic conflict. If the crew failed to make that time, it would result in a 45 min delay. When the checklist item “wing flaps” was called, the ‘follow me’ truck arrived to guide them to runway 23. From then on the crew were busy steering the plane on the slippery taxiways and talking to Oceanic Control resp. The aircraft was cleared for takeoff at 06:14. The stickshaker sounded shortly after VR (154 kts). The aircraft rotated climbed slowly. The right wing contacted the snow covered ground 94 feet left of the extended centerline at a distance of 2760 feet from the runway. The aircraft rolled inverted and broke up. PROBABLE CAUSE: “An attempted takeoff with the flaps in a retracted position. This resulted from a combination of factors: a) inadequate cockpit checklist and procedures; b) a warning system inadequacy associated with cold weather operations; c) ineffective control practices regarding manufacturer’s Service Bulletins; and d) stresses imposed upon the crew by their attempts to meet an air traffic control deadline.”

Primary Cause

Inadequate cockpit checklist and procedures, inadequate warning system, ineffective control practices, and stresses imposed by an air traffic control deadline during attempted takeoff with flaps retracted.Inadequate cockpit checklist and procedures, inadequate warning system, ineffective control practices, and stresses imposed by an air traffic control deadline during attempted takeoff with flaps retracted.

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